Overview :: Careers in IS

What Opportunities are there for IS Graduates?

IS is a rapidly changing field, which is creating new jobs and even new organisations. IS is essential to almost every aspect of the modern organisation. For this reason, IS graduates are sought after by employers, and hold many important and challenging positions locally and internationally. For more career information, view the Career explanations below or visit the ICT Careers Portal provided by the Australian Computer Society.

The overall IT skills shortage in South Africa is confirmed by ITWeb's annual salary survey web pages. Their 2004 survey shows skills shortages for people with specialised skills, and high earning potential for IS graduates, particularly if you are prepared to work hard.  See IS on the Up.  The previous downturn in the IT job market resulted in a lack of interest by students in majoring in IT fields worldwide. This has further increased the demand for IT skills. There are not enough undergraduate students currently studying to meet predicted shortages of qualified computer specialists. In the competition to hire fewer graduates coming out of these programs we expect to see surprising new hikes in starting salaries.

Opportunities for Postgraduate study

The Department of Information Systems has one of the largest Honours classes at UCT, and the number of students proceeding to Masters and PhD degrees is increasing . There are opportunities for both full-time or part-time study, and Masters degrees may be either by coursework and dissertation or by theses only. A new PhD programme has been implemented, and strong links with industry add relevance to degrees.

Careers Available to Majors in Information Systems

Corporate careers for majors in Information Systems are strong and varied. The jobs and salaries reach far beyond programming. Entrepreneurs will also emerge through many similar roles over time in their own companies. These are some of the careers specific to information systems majors. Like other business majors, there many additional opportunities in general management leading to other executive positions up to, and including, Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Information Systems Managers

Planning, directing, or coordinating information systems, systems analysis, electronic data processing, and computer system development.

Computer Information Systems Staff

These are the entry-level and career path positions leading to information systems management positions for IS majors. Information Systems, Computer Science, and Information Technology majors compete for many of these positions, but the preparation is different. IS focuses on business application and has stronger business knowledge with an aim to promote rapidly from these staff areas into management positions. CS and IT aim more for the advanced staff positions. CS provides more strength in computer machinery, networks and systems software, IT balances CS with its broad application areas.

Computer Systems Analysts

Analyze science, engineering, business, and all other data processing problems for application to electronic data processing systems. Analyze user requirements, procedures, and problems to automate or improve existing systems and review computer system capabilities, workflow, and scheduling limitations. May analyze or recommend commercially available software.

Database Administrators

Coordinate changes to computer databases, test and implement the database applying knowledge of database management systems. May plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard computer databases.

Network and Computer Systems Administrators

Install, configure, and support an organization's local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), and Internet system or a segment of a network system. Maintain network hardware and software. Monitor network to ensure network availability to all system users and perform necessary maintenance to support network availability. May supervise other network support and client server specialists and plan, coordinate, and implement network security measures.

Computer Software Engineers, Applications

Develop, create, and modify general computer applications software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions. Design software or customize software for client use with the aim of optimizing operational efficiency. May analyze and design databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.

Computer Support Specialists

Provide technical assistance to computer system users. Answer questions or resolve computer problems for clients in person, via telephone or from remote location. May provide assistance concerning the use of computer hardware and software, including printing, installation, word processing, electronic mail, and operating systems.

Computer Programmers

Convert project specifications and statements of problems and procedures to detailed logical flow charts for coding into computer language. Develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information. May program web sites.